Drug & supplement interaction

Vanadium + Metformin, Sitagliptin

Metformin, Sitagliptin brand names: Janumet, Janumet XR.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Vanadium has a moderate interaction with Metformin, Sitagliptin. Theoretically, vanadium might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with antidiabetes drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodProbable
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Vanadium and Metformin, Sitagliptin

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Metformin, Sitagliptin

Metformin, Sitagliptin falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Vanadium interacts with.

Theoretically, vanadium might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with antidiabetes drugs.
A few very small clinical studies in patients with type 2 diabetes show that the vanadyl sulfate form of vanadium increases insulin sensitivity and might lower blood glucose levels.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence B

Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the thing to keep in mind with Janumet, which combines metformin and sitagliptin. Both of these already work to lower your blood sugar. Vanadium, especially the vanadyl sulfate form, seems to act a little like insulin and may make your cells more sensitive to it. A few small studies in people with type 2 diabetes suggest it can nudge blood sugar down on its own.

So if you stack vanadium on top of Janumet, the worry is an added blood-sugar-lowering effect, which could tip you into hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Watch for shakiness, sweating, dizziness, confusion, or feeling suddenly hungry. The evidence here is fairly limited, so don't panic, but please loop in your doctor or pharmacist before adding vanadium so they can keep an eye on your numbers.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Halberstam M, Cohen N, Shlimovich P, et al. Oral vanadyl sulfate improves insulin sensitivity in NIDDM but not in obese nondiabetic subjects. Diabetes 1996;45:659-66. PubMed
  2. Cohen N, Halberstam M, Shlimovich P, et al. Oral vanadyl sulfate improves hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J Clin Invest 1995;95:2501-9. PubMed
  3. Boden G, Chen X, Ruiz J, et al. Effects of vanadyl sulfate on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Metabolism 1996;45:1130-5.

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Vanadium Also Interacts With Other Medications

Vanadium has 207 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Metformin, Sitagliptin one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 207 No known interaction 2,623 (incl. Metformin, Sitagliptin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Vanadium

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Vanadium. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Metformin, Sitagliptin

This page covers Vanadium only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Metformin, Sitagliptin page lists 257 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Acai (moderate), African Wild Potato (moderate) and Agaricus Mushroom (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 217 moderate · 38 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Metformin, Sitagliptin page

“Many people prescribed metformin with sitagliptin (Janumet, Janumet XR) for type 2 diabetes also try herbs sold as blood sugar support, fenugreek among the most popular, and that habit is exactly where the risk on this page concentrates. Of 257 documented supplement interactions, 239 can push glucose in the same direction the medicatio…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Metformin, Sitagliptin interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Vanadium as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 4,701 real supplement products containing Vanadium, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Vanadium. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Metformin, Sitagliptin too, on top of Vanadium — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Vanadium and Metformin, Sitagliptin Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Vanadium
Top 5%

#56 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Metformin, Sitagliptin
Steady interest

#1,476 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Vanadium

What is Vanadium?

Vanadium
  • Blood sugar and diabetes support
  • Athletic performance and muscle building
  • Lowering cholesterol
  • General trace-mineral supplementation

Vanadium is a trace mineral found in tiny amounts in food, and people get plenty from a normal diet. Supplement claims for diabetes, weight, and athletic performance are not well proven, and higher doses can be toxic. Most people do not need to supplement it, and you should check with your doctor or pharmacist before using it.

Read the full Vanadium monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Vanadium

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Vanadium — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
207Moderate
0Minor
2,622No known interaction
207 Moderate 2,622 No interaction
Moderate

207 interactions

Showing 60 of 207 moderate interactions — see all 207 on the Vanadium page.

No interaction 2,622 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Vanadium against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,622 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Vanadium list.

See the full Vanadium interactions page
See every supplement checked against Metformin, Sitagliptin, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Vanadium monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Metformin, Sitagliptin supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Metformin, Sitagliptin, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Vanadium and Metformin, Sitagliptin Together: Common Questions

Can you take Vanadium with Metformin, Sitagliptin?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Vanadium and Metformin, Sitagliptin interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Metformin, Sitagliptin and Vanadium?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.